EvenFlow liquor hearing set for today

GENEVA – A liquor control hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today on charges that EvenFlow Music and Spirits, 302 W. State St., Geneva, allowed liquor to be served after 2 a.m. for a party late last month that included celebrity guests.

The hearing will be at the City Council chambers, 22 S. First St., and is open to the public.

The city alleged that EvenFlow was open from 2 a.m. to 5:45 a.m. Aug. 25, and “sold, furnished, gave away, or permitted the consumption of alcoholic liquors” on its premises, in violation of its liquor license.

If EvenFlow is convicted on the charges, it would mark the establishment’s third liquor code violation, and its second for serving alcohol after 2 a.m.

Mayor Kevin Burns, in his capacity as liquor commissioner, said he would not comment on the possibility that EvenFlow could lose its liquor license.

“A hearing is scheduled,” Burns said in a text message. “It is inappropriate for me to comment prior to presentation of information by both the defendants and the prosecutors.”

The charges stem from local ordinance tickets for public intoxication that were issued to Hollywood celebrities in town Aug. 25 for a charity event hosted by TV personality Jenny McCarthy at the Hotel Baker in St. Charles.

EvenFlow owners maintained they did not violate the city’s liquor ordinance, saying last call was at 1:50 a.m. that morning and that those cited for public intoxication were still drunk from drinks served before 2 a.m.

A message left at the venue seeking further comment was not returned.

According to the police report, those cited said they drank alcohol until moments before stepping outside, shortly before 5:45 a.m.